In January 2011, details of a a spat between a play-by-play talent and a sideline reporter went public and eventually cost ESPN's Ron Franklin his job. Twelve months later (just days before the calendar year ended) another fracas became public as Fox Sports officiating guru Mike Pereira criticized the work and reactions of ESPN talent and "Monday Night Football" analyst Jon Gruden. Pereira thought Gruden's criticisms of NFL officiating were unfair and unfounded -- and he made sure as many people as possible knew what he thought.
From start to finish, 2011 was eventful and interesting, and those two incidents were just bookend examples of how some sports-media moments became more public. That's a trend that will continue in 2012 in beyond -- especially as leagues and networks embrace social media, giving fans and followers more of an ability to become a part of broadcasts and even shape what happens on radio and TV.
Before this year really gets into gear, though, here are the TalkingTVSports awards for 2011 ...
Best Studio Show: "College GameDay" remains the best because it does the most. From week to week at different locations around the nation, the ESPN college football program sets the stage with timely and topical information. The behind-the-scenes and on-air teams continue to provide a comfortable, familiar and fun program. And even as different talent joins the program (David Pollack was positioned, and responded, as an important newcomer this year), the core analysts (Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard) continue to work well in their roles and with each other. While the streamlined and less cluttered "Football Night in America" has hit its stride on NBC during Sunday nights with NFL coverage, "GameDay" remains just a shade better.
Best Studio Host: Always prepared and steady Chris Fowler of ESPN is the perhaps the main reason "GameDay" succeeds on a daily basis. He shares information, sets up his partners and keeps the show rolling. He's one of the best in sports television, regardless of the sport. And he capably proves that away from "GameDay" with his play-by-play of college games and his work on tennis and other assignments for ESPN.
Best Play-by-Play Team: Oh, it was good while it lasted. The three-man NBA booth of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy on ESPN/ABC was entertaining and fun, without being overly deferential to the people they were covering and, best of all, without being juvenile. Breen's play-by-play skills and the trio's familiarity with each other enabled them to make games enjoyable. They knew each other well enough, and the game well enough, to pack a broadcast from start to finish with information and a little bit of fun and perspective. With Jackson having left the broadcast booth to coach the Golden State Warriors this season, things will most certainly change, if only because Van Gundy has said he enjoyed the three-man setup more than a typical two-man approach -- and despite the fact that the comfort level between Breen and Van Gundy often enables Van Gundy to really shine more than some would expect.
Best Play-by-Play Talent: Joe Buck, and it's not even all that close. He's the No. 1 play-by-play man for Fox Sports on baseball and the NFL. And despite battling some vocal issues this past year, the network stuck with him (as it should have). Plus, along with his regularly standout duties, Buck even offered a spur-of-the-moment homage to his late father Jack Buck during the World Series. This video shares the calls of the father and son.
Best Color Commentator: Versatile Mike Mayock of the NFL Network and NBC Sports gets the nod here. He emerged this year on NFL Network games, and even in the small sample of games that airs on the league-owned network he proved his knowledge of the sport and ability to share good information in a manner that serves viewers without being self-serving at all. In the past few years he's elevated himself on the strength of his NFL Draft expertise and then thrived whenever another door opened.
Best Sideline Reporter: None. It's one of the most visible and easily criticized positions on sports television. It's also one of the least appreciated. Still, no viewer tunes in because of the sideline reporter and none really distinguished themselves beyond those two or three halftime questions before a coach heads to the locker room.
Best Expert/Insider: Even in the ever-talking crowd of NFL experts, Peter King delivers on a regular basis. He does so most prominently with his Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback and during "Football Night in America" on NBC. At the same time, he calls in to other national programs (ESPN Radio) and invariably comes informed and prepared. That's what people want from people in his position.
Newcomer(s) of the Year: Neither is necessary first-year new, but both Chris Webber and Trent Dilfer emerged for ESPN in 2011. Neither wants to be a former jock just talking. They work at broadcasting and it shows. Plus, as relative newcomers they're on air all the time (even holidays it seems) and they seem to treat all the work they get as an opportunity. Best of all, it's an opportunity for listeners/viewers as well. Both Webber and Dilfer come with opinions about the NBA and NFL, respectively, they they also come clearly prepared.
Where Have You Gone Award: OK, we know where they went ... Ron Franklin was forced out and Craig James decided to run for elected office. And baseball season progressed without Joe Morgan having a major role nationally as well. In all three cases, the respective sports were probably better for their departures. That said, I missed Franklin's voice on college football, will never understand how ESPN could keep James in such a prominent role and often gave Morgan a pass just because he and Jon Miller had some good moments together.
Next on the Horizon Award: He's been a UFC/MMA favorite (for some to appreciate and others to criticize) for years but there's little doubt Mike Goldberg -- the lead play-by-play man for UFC -- will get more major opportunities in 2012 than any other on-air sports type. With Fox Sports moving farther into its relationship with UFC, including events such as "UFC on Fox 2" later this month, more mainstream fans will be potentially exposed to Goldberg than ever before. Also, UFC added Jon Anik, previously of ESPN's "MMA Live," to handled events on FX and other channels as part of the deal.
Best Innovation: It's not so much innovative as important, but the NFL deals with broadcast partners CBS, Fox and NBC are without parallel. The agreements -- worth about $3.1 billion through 2022 (they kick in after the 2013 season) -- enable the NFL's broadcast partners to stream games, create some additional support/studio programming and set the stage for labor piece in the most popular sport in the United States.
TV Moment of the Year: Given an almost off-hand opportunity, Bob Costas delivered a standard-setting performance during a phone interview with former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on "Rock Center" in November. Costas was set to conduct an on-air interview with Sandusky's lawyer, Joseph Amendola, regarding the charges of sexual assault and misconduct against the retired coach. Instead, the lawyer also asked if Costas would like to talk to Sandusky by phone. Without missing a beat, Costas switched gears and directed his well-prepared questions to Sandusky himself. The result was a compelling and troubling interaction. Still, it was quality journalism.
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